i8o BACON 



that hath carefully followed the prudent example of Aristotle, 

 who began to collect popular marks or colors of apparent good 

 and evil, as well simple as comparative.^ These, in reality, are 

 but rhetorical sophisms, though of excellent use, especially in 

 business and private discourse. But the labor of Aristotle 

 about these colors has three defects; for I. though they are 

 numerous, he recites but few ; 2. he has not annexed their red- 

 argutions; and 3. he seems not to have understood their full 

 use: for they serve as well to affect and move as to demon- 

 strate. There are many forms of speech which, though signifi- 

 cative of the same things, yet affect men differently ; as a sharp 

 instrument penetrates more than a blunt one, supposing both of 

 them urged with equal force. There is nobody but would be 

 more affected by hearing this expression, How your enemies 

 will triumph upon this : 



" Hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridse," * 



than if it were simply said, This will injure your affairs : there- 

 fore these stings and goads of speech are not to be neglected. 

 And since we propose this as a desideratum, we will, after our 

 manner, give a sketch of it, in the way of examples ; for pre- 

 cepts will not so well illustrate the thing. In deliberatives, we 

 inquire what is good, what evil ; and of good, which is the 

 greater, and of evil, which the less. Whence the persuader's 

 task is to make things appear good or evil, and that in a higher 

 or lower degree; which may be performed by true and solid 

 reasons, or represented by colors, popular glosses, and circum- 

 stances of such force as to sway an ordinary judgment ; or even 

 a wise man that does not fully and considerately attend to the 

 subject. But besides this power to alter the nature of the sub- 

 ject in appearance, and so lead to error, they are of use to 

 quicken and strengthen such opinions and persuasions as are 

 true ; for reasons nakedly delivered, and always after one man- 

 ner, enter but heavily, especially with delicate minds ; whereas, 

 when varied and enlivened by proper forms and insinuations, 

 they cause a stronger apprehension, and often suddenly win the 

 mind to a resolution. Lastly, to make a true and safe judg- 

 ment, nothing can be of greater use and preservation to the 

 mind than the discovery and reprehension of these colors, show- 

 ing in what cases they hold and in what not ; which cannot be 

 done without a comprehensive knowledge of things ; but when 



